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Welcome to Everyday Inspired a destination for inspiration, motivation, and renewal for your creative business and life. Join the conversation as we share with each other our personal creative journeys.

7.28.2011

I was really bummed to hear Borders bookstore was closing. One of my favorite things to do when I need inspiration is to head to the bookstore and spend an afternoon looking at magazines and books.

I am going to miss my quite time hanging out in the bookstore. I guess I will have to do more hanging out in my local library and reading at home.

The hardest thing about reading at home is all the distraction. When I sit at the bookstore or library I don't have the computer, or my supplies, or even those nagging chores starring back at me to get up and do something.

Creating a space just for reading can help with getting away from those distraction and enliven your reading experience.

The best position for reading is sitting at a table in a comfortable chair. You will find that you comprehend more and have more clarity of thought. Lying down and lounging may feel comfortable, but these positions are not good for alertness or concentration.

Try to find a space with the least amount of distraction and good lighting.

If you are doing a lot of reading remember to take breaks to avoid eye fatigue.

When you are reading for inspiration keep in mind your creative needs. The more you are aware of your needs the easier it will be to make a connection between ideas, concepts, and insights, as well as making it easier to grasp ideas.

Find the time and the perfect spot so you can read more often. The more you read the more you will develop your knowledge of creative thinking strategies and idea generation techniques.

7.27.2011

“Close your eyes and you will see clearly,cease to listen and you will hear truth, be silent and your heart will sing, seek no contacts and you will find union, be still and you will move forward on the tide of spirit”

7.26.2011

You hear it all the time, promote, promote, promote. It's one of the most important things you need to do to get your shop noticed and to make sales.

We use social media, blogs and forums to promote all the time, along with all the other online business doing the same thing.

We think because we have an online business we should be promoting mostly online, but our business can benefit from being promoted everywhere possible.

Today I have a list of ideas you can do offline to direct people to your website.

• Join non-crafty organizations in your community to network and increase your visibility.

• Consider adding your logo or your website info via a car decal.

• Do demonstrations at local events. Answer questions, pass out cards, or whatever you need to create interest in your shop.

• Make a small investment for premium products with your shop information to share with customers and potential customers. Print t-shirts, make bookmark business cards, create buttons, check out Etsy for lots of other promotional product ideas.

• Offer selected customers free samples. When I started I had a box of jewelry that I let my friends and family choose pieces for free and asked them to pass out cards. I actually got a few orders and a good regular customer.

• Write short articles about your craft or what you are an expert in and submit them to article sites such as ezinearticles.com. Don't for get to include your shop address at the end of each article.

• Sign up for HARO.com (Help a Reporter Out) for opportunities to be featured on blog and local and national publications.

• Don't forget the obvious passing out business card, and if you make something you can wear like jewelry, clothes, or accessories, show it off and wear it everywhere.

There are many options for promoting your shop offline these are just a few suggestions to get you started. Try including a few offline ideas to your fall/holiday marketing plan.

7.25.2011

I am always amazed at the amount of talent on internet. I run across a new artist, writer, or business almost everyday.

We spend a lot of time online running our business, writing our blogs, and doing social media, but it's also a great place to find people who can inspire and motivate you.

Motivate yourself by following people, websites, and blogs of people who are succeeding.

By following these sites you can learn new ideas, be inspired, and use them to motivate yourself to strive for success.

When you need a little boost of motivation visit these inspiring blogs, websites, and shops read about what's new, enjoy their artwork, find that little something you need to move forward with your own goals.

7.22.2011

If buying all new colorful clothing is not in the budget, try adding color through accessories. Etsy has a wonderful collection of accessories, here are a few colorful options to spice up your wardrobe.

7.21.2011

This is a monthly post where you can share 3 things about yourself or your business. Giving us an opportunity to get to know each other and our businesses.

Suggested ideas:
-business goals or goals you have met
-books you are reading
-a new project you are starting or doing
-places you have visited
-blog posts you have enjoyed
-a post you have written that you would like to share
-new items you have added to your shop
-new materials you are working with
-family plans or an event you are excited about
-need help with an idea - ask for help

All I ask is that you are a follower of my blog to participate and that you check out a few links from the other people who leave comments.

7.20.2011

“The mountains, rivers, earth, grasses, trees, and forests are always emanating a subtle, precious light, day and night, always emanating a subtle, precious sound, demonstrating and expounding to all people the unsurpassed ultimate truth”

Idea to Inspire

Find a quite moment in your day to sit inside or outside. Close your eyes. Listen to all the sounds around you and let the amazing everyday sounds in our world inspire you.

Photos to Inspire

Subtle sounds from the home and amazing pictures from Flickr, inspiration is everywhere.

Manicure - Having manicures that are nourishing for your nails and pamper your hands are not only a special treat they are good for your hand care.

Feed your nails with good nutrition - choose foods that are rich in calcium and B-complex.

Adjust your computer - The position of your computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse can have a profound effect on your hands. Adjust them so they are positioned at a comfortable level for your hands and body.

We use and abuse our hands everyday. If you take a little time daily to care for your number one tool, they will do what you need them to do for a long time.

7.17.2011

During the summer, when business is a little slower, is the best time to prepare for the busy fall/holiday season.

Taking your extra time to build up inventory, plan your advertising and marketing plan, and work on your branding, will make a difference when it starts to get busy.

Get started on that process by spending a little time with your journal.

Use this as a journal prompt: Why are you in business.

This is a good place to start your planning process. Take your time, if it's easier make lists about your business, draw pictures of what you want your business to be like, cut out words and pictures from magazines and create a collage.

Knowing why you are in business helps with the decisions you make with your business.

7.14.2011

Every month I do a posts called Check This Out as a way for each of us to get to know a little about ourselves and our businesses.

Today I thought I would share a little more about myself so you can get to know me a little better.

~ I enjoy cooking and creating interesting meals~ I am addicted to books on CD. I listen to them everyday~ I love magazines of all kinds, but especially art magazines~ I like to sew, but I don't do it as often as I want~ I love to travel by car~ I hate to clean the house and I only do it when I have to~ Creating is part of me, it's what makes me happy~ I love books, I have almost 200 books in my collection~ I like action movies~ Fall is my favorite time of year

• Common dream that transcend cultural and socio-economic boundariesinclude falling, flying, nakedness in public, and unpreparedness. These shared dreams arise from experiences and anxieties fundamental to all people.

• Studies have shown that your brain waves are more active when you are dreaming than when we are awake.

• Not everybody dreams in color - about 12% of sighted people dream exclusively in black and white, and the rest in color. Prior to the 1950's most people dreamed in black and white, but the introduction of color television changed that.

The study of dreams is fascinating to me. I have been reading about dreams and learning everything I can about them for years. I find it interesting that all those crazy symbols in our dreams can give us insight into who we are and how we are feeling.

7.11.2011

Staying positive is essential to having a good work day and accomplishing your goals.

When you have people around you that are not supportive to you and your goals it makes it difficult to get things done.

Spend less time with negative people, and watch your motivation increase everyday.

I know it can be challenging if it's family that is negative. Your best option is to work when they are not around and don't let their negativity rub off on you.

Surround yourself with people who will support your desire to be creative and run your business. Participate in a craft or business networking groups in your area, or start one with your crafty friends.

Find a crafting or business buddy. Having someone you can talk with to express your concerns, share your goals and successes, will make being creative and running your business more enjoyable.

Building an online community is another way to interact with supportive people who are working toward the same goal. Having this community will keep you motivated and give you an outlet for when things are not going well.

When you are working, and spending less time with negative people and more with your support community, you will be motivated to achieve all your goals.

7.07.2011

Since the beginning of the year I have been working hard to live a healthier lifestyle.

I now workout about 4 -5 days a week (I am working towards 6 days). I have changed the way me and my family eat, with more fruits and veggies, I get more sleep, and now drink almost a gallon of water a day.

As the year goes on I plan to start mediating more, drink green tea daily, and find more time to relax and enjoy life.

I started all of this because I have arthritis in almost every joint in my body, and in pain most days. Changing my lifestyle helped with making my joints a little less painful, and giving me the opportunity to get out and do more.

My creative journey is effected by how I feel and my lifestyle change has made creating everyday easier and more enjoyable.

So here is my question for you today:

What obstacle have you overcome to be able to create and run your business?

7.06.2011

“All of nature begins to whisper its secrets to us through its sounds. Sounds that were previously incomprehensible to our soul now become the meaningful language of nature.”
Rudolf Steiner

Idea to Inspire

With all the distractions throughout our day, it's the simplest sounds of an ordinary day that we take for granted.

I recently enjoyed a book called 100 Sounds to See by Marsha Engle. In this wonderful book Marsha shares her story of how she is slowly losing her hearing, and how she collaborated with photographer William Huber to capture ordinary sounds in stunning photographs.

Over the next month the Be Inspired collection is going to feature photographs of ordinary sounds in photography.